San Diego Zoo's new baby gorilla has pneumonia

Associated Press

March 18, 2014 - 4:50 PM

SAN DIEGO — A baby gorilla delivered by a rare emergency cesarean section last week at the San Diego Zoo has pneumonia and is receiving round-the-clock care.

Zoo spokeswoman Christina Simmons the female gorilla was receiving oxygen and other treatment on Tuesday. She says the gorilla is sleeps a lot but is getting stronger day by day and vets are cautiously optimistic about her condition.

The medical team includes both vets and specialists in human neonatal care.

The gorilla was born March 12 and underwent surgery last Friday for a collapsed lung. It's unclear whether she contracted pneumonia before or after birth.

The mother gorilla, an 18-year-old named Imani, had never given birth. The zoo says the C-section, rare for a gorilla, was performed because she was in distress after going into labor.